The 1954 film "Shield for Murder" is a crime film about a long-time police detective who turns to crime to obtain money to buy a house and marry his pretty girlfriend. Early in the film, at the police station, two police detectives and a gambler flip coins to decide what to do with the gambler. One coin appears and it is a Los Angeles Rubber Stamp Company President Monroe prop coin.

Police detective Barney Nolan, a long-time police officer, learns that a bookie's employee, Perk Martin, is carrying $25,000 in cash. Bookies were men who operated an illegal gambling business called "bookmaking" where people could place bets on horse races and other sporting events. Barney accosts Perk and deliberately shoots and kills him.

Barney steals the money and calls the police department. Barney's assistant is detective Mark Brewster who is at the police station. Two detectives are questioning a gambler, possibly a bookie, who they have known for some time. The detectives and the gambler flip coins. The gambler calls "tails."

The right-hand coin is visible and appears to have the "head" facing up.

The coin is a Los Angeles Rubber Stamp Company President Monroe Motion Picture prop coin. Only the obverse side of the coin is shown.

White metal, 38 mm, 20.68 gm
Obverse: President James Monroe facing half left, no text
Reverse: Bird of Paradise and man kneeling in temple surrounded by eight-pointed star, no text

For more information on these prop coins please visit: Motion Picture Prop Coins

The gambler wins the coin toss.

One detective asks "This is too expensive, let's book him. What's the charge?" and the other replies "Gambling, what else?."

Barney is questioned by police Captain Gunnarson who is upset at the shooting. Barney has been involved in several police killings before for which he has offered excuses. A newspaper reporter is suspicious but can not report the story. A young woman, Patty Winters, is admiring herself in a mirror.

Patty is Barney's girlfriend. He wants to marry her and buy a house in the suburbs. Two of the bookmaker's gangsters visit the police station to ask about the $25,000 that the dead bookie was carrying. They get no answer and then visit Barnie and Patty at home and question them, also getting no information. Detective Mark visits Patty to ask her about Barney and they are visited by the gangsters.

The men ask about the money and then leave. This interest in money arouses Mark's suspicions. Barney and Patty head for the "Castle Heights" housing development to look at the furnished model home.

"Castle Heights" was a real Los Angeles housing project at the time. The house is furnished and both fantasize about enjoying life there. While there, Barney goes outside and buries the money. Mark visits Patty again and again the gangsters show up.

A witness to the shooting of the bookie Perk informs the police of what he saw. The witness is later found dead and Detective Mark finds a note that the witness wrote which identifies Barney and states that the witness saw Barney take the money. Mark then informs the police captain about the situation. Meanwhile, Barney is at a bar.

Barney is not really interested in the girl and leaves.

Captain Gunnarson informs his policemen that Barney has turned criminal, is wanted for murder, and that they are to find and arrest Barney. Knowing that his scheme has been exposed and that the police are looking for him, Barney comes up with a plan to take the money and leave the country. He visits a couple of men who arrange such things.

Barney gets an airline ticket and some travel papers $15,000 but gives the men fake money. Barney and one of the men get into a gunfight, Barney kills the man and heads to the model home to retrieve the $25,000. Patty tells the police about the model home and they head there also. A shootout ensues and Barney is shot.

The bills are standard Mexican Revolution motion picture stage or prop bills. For more information on these bills please visit: Mexican Revolution Currency Notes.

Edmond O'Brien as Detective Barney Nolan
John Agar as Detective Mark Brewster
Emile Meyer as Captain Gunnarson
Marla English as Patty Winters
Carolyn Jones as Beth (the blonde girl at the bar)
Directors: Edmond O'Brien, Howard W. Koch
Writers: Richard Alan Simmons, John C. Higgins